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SYDNEY - Wallabies front-rower Benn Robinson says props aren't just "big meatheads" anymore and believes Australia's much-maligned scrum is worrying the All Blacks about how much clean ball they are getting.
Australia's scrum held up well against New Zealand in last week's Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations test
in Sydney which the Wallabies won 34-19 at ANZ Stadium.
Robinson said the Wallabies were pretty happy with their scrummaging efforts against a side generally recognised as the best in the world in that department.
Robinson said the scrum had been a great platform for New Zealand, but thought they may have lost a lot with the departure of front-row cornerstone Carl Hayman.
"We're pretty pleased with how our scrum went. They are probably the best scrummaging team in the world at the moment," Robinson said.
"I think they were a little bit shocked when we had some nice clean ball early on.
"They are working to disrupt a lot of scrums. The South Africans a couple of weeks ago, they caused them trouble there.
"They are not shocked, but I think they are a little bit concerned how much clean ball we got from the scrums."
With the Experimental Law Variations making the game faster and new coach Robbie Deans demanding a quick tempo game from the Wallabies, Robinson emphasised props were now expected to do much more than their traditional set-piece work.
"I don't think you can be a prop now and just waddle from scrum to scrum. You've got to have a lot of other attributes as well, running and tackling and passing," Robinson said.
"We are not just big meat heads anymore. We can pass the ball and run around and we are asked to do a lot more.
"We do a lot of skill work as well. I suppose forwards in the past weren't too known for their passing and their catching and skills.
"We do a lot of work. Robbie has a big emphasis on us making sure we have got high skill levels."
Despite the greater demands on props mobility and athleticism, Robinson still couldn't see the traditional scrum anchors turning into svelte sub-100kg lightweights.
"I think the weight is still a big factor in scrummaging and if you don't have that extra weight there could be trouble," Robinson said.
Robinson stressed Australia's emphasis on defence over the last couple of years was exemplified last weekend by the passion and pride they showed in that facet which he said resulted in "a few little bone crunches out there."
- AAP